AP Psychology Unit 5 Vocabulary Flashcards

health psychology

Subfield of psychology that explores the impact of psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors on health and wellness.

positive psychology

Study of human flourishing, aiming to discover and promote strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities thrive.

clinical psychology

Branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

normal vs. disordered behavior

Includes the four D's: Deviance, Dysfunction, Distress, Danger.

stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events called stressors that we appraise as threatening or challenging.

Eustress

Positive stress that energizes a person and helps reach a goal.

distress

Negative stress.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic childhood experiences linked to mental and physical health problems later in life.

Resilience

The personal strength that helps people cope with stress and recover from adversity.

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system

A major neuroendocrine pathway relevant to the stress response.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Concept describing the body's adaptive response to stress in three phases: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

Under stress, people may nurture themselves and others and seek support.

problem-focused coping

Alleviating stress by changing the stressor or interacting differently with it.

emotion-focused coping

Alleviating stress by avoiding or ignoring the stressor and attending to emotional needs.

learned helplessness

The hopelessness an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

well-being

Self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life.

adaptation-level phenomenon

Our tendency to form judgments relative to a neutral level defined by prior experience.

relative deprivation

The perception that one is worse off compared to others.

broaden and build theory

Positive emotions prompt people to consider novel solutions to problems.

Virtues

Classification system for positive traits organized into categories like wisdom, courage, justice.

posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological changes resulting from struggling with challenging circumstances.

DSM-5

A widely used system for classifying psychological disorders.

Epigenetics

Study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change.

eclectic approach

An approach to psychotherapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy.

Behavioral Perspective

An approach focusing on the role of learning in explaining observable behavior.

Psychodynamic Perspective

The view that behavior is motivated by unconscious inner forces.

Humanistic Perspective

Focuses on growing oneself and taking responsibility, emphasizing consciousness.

Cognitive Perspective

Emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, and problem solving.

Evolutionary Perspective

Focuses on the biological bases of mental characteristics all humans share.

sociocultural perspective

Psychological approach that emphasizes social and cultural influences on behavior.

Biological Perspective

Emphasizes the influence of biology on behavior.

Biopsychosocial Model

Integrates biological, behavioral, and social factors on health and illness.

diathesis-stress model

The concept that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Conditions characterized by developmental deficits that impair functioning.

ADHD

A psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

ASD

A disorder marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

Delusions

False beliefs held by a person who refuses to acknowledge their falseness.

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something that isn't there.

Word Salad

Incoherent mixture of words, phrases, and sentences.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness to the environment, including muscle rigidity.

catatonic stupor

An immobile, expressionless state associated with schizophrenia.

flat affect

A lack of emotional responsiveness.

Dopamine Hypothesis

The idea that schizophrenia involves an excess of dopamine activity.

Depressive Disorders

Characterized by enduring sad, empty, or irritable mood.

MDD

A disorder with five or more symptoms lasting two weeks or more.

PDD

Depressive disorder with milder but longer-lasting symptoms than MDD.

bipolar disorders

Disorders where a person alternates between depression and mania.

mania

A mood disorder marked by a hyperactive state.

Bipolar I vs Bipolar II

Bipolar I: One manic episode; Bipolar II: Less extreme manic phases.

Anxiety Disorders

Characterized by excessive fear and related maladaptive behaviors.

acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where one may panic and feel lost of control.

Panic Disorder

Marked by unpredictable episodes of intense dread.

panic attack

Sudden onset of intense panic with physical symptoms of stress.

social anxiety disorder

Intense fear of social situations leading to avoidance.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A disorder where a person is continuously tense and apprehensive.

obsessive-compulsive disorder

Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts and actions.

Hoarding Disorder

Compulsion to save items leading to excessive accumulation.

dissociative disorders

Rare disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness or memory.

Dissociative Amnesia

Memory gaps related to trauma that the person cannot explain.

DID

Dissociative disorder with two or more distinct personalities.

PTSD

Characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, and withdrawal after trauma.

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by irrational fear of weight gain.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder involving binge eating followed by purging.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by extreme suspiciousness of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships.

Histronic Personality Disorder

Exaggerated emotional responses and a need for attention.